Court documents allege Melanie Gomez encouraged and assisted in a stabbing during a custody exchange on San Antonio’s east side.
SAN ANTONIO — Newly filed court documents reveal troubling details about a stabbing during a child custody exchange and police say the children’s mother played a key role.
According to an arrest affidavit, 31-year-old Melanie Sierra Gomez is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the Feb. 19, 2026 attack on Oscar Javier Barbosa, the father of her two children.
San Antonio police were dispatched to the 1200 block of Iowa Street for a reported cutting in progress. When officers arrived, they found Barbosa with multiple stab wounds to his stomach and arms. He was transported to the hospital and taken into surgery.
Investigators say the stabbing happened during a scheduled exchange of the couple’s two children.
Barbosa told police he had arrived to pick up the children and had been communicating with Gomez by phone. According to the affidavit, Gomez instructed him to go inside the location and later told him to return outside.
As Barbosa walked out, he encountered 26-year-old Abel Ali Rivas, who police say was holding a folding knife.
Barbosa’s girlfriend told investigators she was on the phone with him at the time and overheard him say, “Are you going to stab me over this?” before the call disconnected. She later identified Rivas’ voice, telling police she had previously been in a relationship with him for about 10 years.
The affidavit alleges Gomez approached during the confrontation and made comments about Barbosa getting his girlfriend pregnant. Investigators say before the stabbing began, Gomez told Rivas, “Go … do what you are going to do.”
Police further allege Gomez physically prevented Barbosa from escaping, helping pin him against a vehicle and pulling him back as he attempted to flee.
After the assault, investigators say Rivas got into Barbosa’s car and drove away without consent. Gomez remained at the scene briefly before leaving.
Both Rivas and Gomez were identified in photo lineups by the victim. Gomez has since posted bond.
The case remains under investigation.